In May, students from the Shoshone Bannock Healthy Empowered Youth (HEY) program offered yard clean-up services to elders in their community. Students
borrowed lawn mowers, rakes, and a trailer, and spent the day mowing and planting flowers at two elder's homes. Afterwards they shared a meal, and asked
the homeowner about their life. Check out the We R Native Facebook page to see before
and after photos!
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Monthly Contest Winner

First Place: cheyenne Mind, body & spirit June 2018

Summer is a great time to honor our bodies through self-care. So, we asked you to share how you plan to stay on track with your health goals this summer, and Cheyenne delivered :) Check out her submission!

My submission is paddling for the Stommish water festival. I am a canoe paddler and I do a lot to make sure I stay in shape. I run like the wolves and make sure I eat berries like a bear. I eat salmon and workout along with making sure I am okay to paddle. Along with my day to day activities I throw shot put and discus and I go rollerblading and keep up with the younger generation as some of them are faster than I thought. You know, I run with the wolves and make sure life knows I'm active. I am a track and field athlete and I am working on my dancing and volleyball skills for the upcoming season. Thank you for listening

My Story

I used to be the one who would sit in the back of the room & cling to my Mom. After being bullied in school I didn't think I or my voice mattered or
that I was beautiful. It was only when I attended the NCNAYO (North Carolina Native American Youth Organization) conference, a State wide conference
for Native youth, that I felt like I could be more. I was amazed by how many youth came together to take part in the conference & that it was a
youth led event! I was able to talk w/ youth my age, make friends, experience my culture & enjoy the speakers & workshops they had! After the
conference I knew I had to be apart of NCNAYO so I ran for County Representative & got the position. I was truly happy to be around so many youth
& not feel judged or less than. NCNAYO has done so much for me. I was able to become a leader, comfortable in my own skin & my own person.
If it wasn't for NCNAYO I'd probably still be too afraid to say my own name out loud.

-Halona Benjamin (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), age 18, is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and is passionate about bettering the lives of future Native
Americans.